Three families in Dundalk, Co Louth, will become the first residents in Ireland and the UK to live in 3D printed houses.
The two-storey, three-bedroom terraced houses were built using construction printing technology that automates the concrete laying process.
An official event will be held in Dundalk later to formally hand the homes in Grange Close over to the three local families, who were previously on the Louth County Council social housing list.
The construction of the houses involved the installation of a 3D concrete printer on a gantry, which was programmed to pipe out concrete as per a digital plan. The cavity walls were built from scratch, without using concrete blocks.
The printed structures were achieved in 12 print days, with a total machine on-site time of 18 working days
The three houses were built over the course of six months between last May and November.
Developers have said that the COBOD 3D construction printing technology used in the project automates the concrete laying process, resulting in time and cost savings, improved structural integrity, and the more efficient use of resources.
The housing development at Grange Close in Dundalk was the result of a partnership between Louth County Council and Irish construction technology company Harcourt Technologies (HTL), as well as construction firm Roadstone, the Louth & Meath Education & Training Board (LMETB) and Harcourt Architects.
Each of the three houses has a gross internal area of 110 square metres and an A2 energy rating.
The printed structures were achieved in 12 print days, with a total machine on-site time of 18 working days.
HTL has said that this is 60% faster than the traditional 44-day concrete block method and the total working days for the project amounted to 132, achieving a 35% savings compared to the 203 days required for traditional construction.
In monetary terms, the company said the construction cost of each home was around €253,000 excluding VAT and this equates to existing traditional construction costs.
Managing Director of HTL Justin Kinsella said the project is an example of how such technology can transform housing delivery.
In a statement, he said: “At Harcourt Technologies we have successfully demonstrated the benefits of the technology in delivering a traditional and trusted concrete cavity wall construction, with remarkable efficiency – 60% faster than conventional methods and reducing the overall project delivery by 35%.
The three houses were built over the course of six months between last May and November
“Thanks to our partnership with Roadstone, we’re now positioned to scale up this solution across Ireland and help contribute to the much-needed supply of cost-effective, and sustainable housing throughout the country.”
The success of the Grange Close project has also been attributed to the involvement of the LMETB, which provided training and upskilling to workers in 3D construction printing technology.
Chief Executive of the LMETB and the Advanced Training and Manufacturing Centre of Excellence, Martin O’Brien, said: “The Grange Close project is a testament to what can be achieved when forward-thinking ideas and collaborative efforts come together.
“We are proud to play a central role in delivering Ireland’s first 3D printed homes, which will provide much-needed social housing to families in Louth,” he added.